Supplement
Beta-glucans are soluble fibers found in oats, barley and yeast, and in the gut they bind bile acids, which nudges the liver to pull more cholesterol out of the blood. People mostly look at them for high cholesterol, where the evidence is strong, and analyses of trials found blood glucose improved in people with high cholesterol, along with apolipoprotein B. Most of these effects were small, so the gains were modest.
Sources: PMID 26001090; PMID 27724985
- Updated
- How we grade
- 7 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade A
- Conditions studied
- 8
- Outcomes
- 21
- Graded outcomes
- 3600
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood glucose Moderate Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 3 studies | 538 people | ||
Studies that measured blood glucose
| ||||||
| HbA1c Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 350 people | |||
| Insulin | Changes; see studies | 538 people | ||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood glucose Moderate Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 3 studies | 538 people | ||
Studies that measured blood glucose
| ||||||
High Cholesterol
- Blood glucose: improves
- Insulin: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood glucose Moderate Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 3 studies | 603 people | ||
Studies that measured blood glucose
| ||||||
| Insulin | Changes; see studies | 603 people | ||||
General Cardiovascular Health
- Apolipoprotein B: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apolipoprotein B Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 3,926 people | ||
Dyslipidemia
- Apolipoprotein B: improves
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): changes; see studies
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL): improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apolipoprotein B Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 3,926 people | ||
| Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 512 people | |||
Studies that measured low-density lipoprotein (ldl) | ||||||
| High-density lipoprotein (HDL) | Improves (the measure goes up) | 512 people | ||||
| Non-HDL Cholesterol | Changes; see studies | 3,926 people | ||||
| Total cholesterol | Changes; see studies | 512 people | ||||
| Triglycerides | Changes; see studies | 512 people | ||||
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk: improves
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 2,465 people | ||
Studies that measured upper respiratory tract infection risk | ||||||
| Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms | Changes; see studies | 2,465 people | ||||
Fatigue
- Fatigue Symptoms: improves
- Mood: improves
- Vigor/Activity: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fatigue Symptoms Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 367 people | |||
| Mood | Improves (the measure goes up) | 666 people | ||||
| Vigor/Activity | Improves (the measure goes up) | 417 people |
Weight Loss & Maintenance
- Body Mass Index (BMI): improves
- Weight: changes; see studies
- Waist circumference: changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Mass Index (BMI) Small Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1,064 people | |||
| Weight | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 1,064 people | |||
| Waist circumference | Changes; see studies | 1,064 people | ||||
Key findings
- Blood glucoseImproves (the measure goes down)
- Apolipoprotein BImproves (the measure goes down)
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection RiskImproves (the measure goes down)
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Third-party tested Beta-glucans products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade A
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Studies cited
7 studies from PubMed
- Effects of yeast β-glucans for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infection in healthy subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of beta-glucan consumption on glycemic control in hypercholesterolemic individuals.
- The effect of oat β-glucan on LDL-cholesterol, non-HDL-cholesterol and apoB for CVD risk reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised-controlled trials
- The separate effects of whole oats and isolated beta-glucan on lipid profile: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- The effect of oat β-glucan on postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Effect of Oat β-Glucan Intake on Glycaemic Control and Insulin Sensitivity of Diabetic Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Effects of cereal beta-glucan consumption on body weight, body mass index, waist circumference and total energy intake: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.